Phlox plant named ‘USPHL304’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘USPHL304’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; attractive lavender-colored flowers with a white and purple-colored star pattern at the center; freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USPHL304’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name USPHL304.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Hikone Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new pot-type Phlox cultivars with numerousattractive flowers.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventoron Mar. 29, 2001 in Hikone Shiga, Japan of two unidentified selectionsof Phlox hybrida, not patented. The new Phlox was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif.,on May 24, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings atBonsall, Calif. since May 24, 2002, has shown that the unique featuresof this new Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar USPHL304 have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘USPHL304’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘USPHL304’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Attractive lavender-colored flowers with a white and        purple-colored star pattern at the center.    -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the parent selections inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox are more vigorous than plants of the        parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox have larger flowers than plants of        the parent selections.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time        than plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to the other selections of Phloxhybrida, not patented, known to the Inventor. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Hikone Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Phloxdiffered from plants of ‘Astoria Pink’, not patented, in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Astoria Pink’.    -   2. Plants of the new Phlox flowered for a longer period of time        than plants of ‘Astoria Pink’.    -   3. Plants of the new Phlox were more high-temperature tolerant        than plants of ‘Astoria Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Phlox.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘USPHL304’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘USPHL304’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants grown in15-cm containers were used for the aforementioned photographs andfollowing description. Plants were about two months from planting rootedcuttings. Plants were grown under conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions during the summer in Bonsall, Calif. inan outdoor nursery. During the production period, day temperaturesranged from 21° C. to 35° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C.to 18° C.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox hybrida cultivar USPHL304.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not            patented.        -   Male parent.—Unidentified selection of Phlox hybrida, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About one to two weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three to four            weeks.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and outwardly spreading plant            habit; broad inverted triangle; vigorous growth habit.            Freely branching with about three to four main stems per            plant each with multiple secondary lateral branches.        -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 38.5 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Pubescent. Color: 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;            sessile. Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute to acuminate. Base: Clasping to            slightly auriculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Slightly rough; pubescent. Venation pattern:            Pinnate; arcuate. Color: Developing leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: 147A. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 147B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers            arranged in terminal panicles; flowers face upright and            outward. Panicles roughly hemispherical in shape. Freely            flowering habit with about 32 to 34 flower buds and flowers            per lateral branch.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring            through fall in Southern California Flowers persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four to five            days on the plant.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Elongated ovoid. Color: 155A.        -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.5 cm. Depth: About 1.6 cm. Throat            diameter, distal: About 2 mm. Tube diameter, proximal: About            2 mm. Tube length: About 1.4 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe            length: About 1.2 cm. Lobe width: About 1.9 cm. Lobe shape:            Obovate. Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Entire; slightly            undulate. Texture: Lobes, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; satiny. Throat: Smooth, glabrous. Tube: Pubescent.            Color: Developing petals, upper surface: 76A. Developing            petals, lower surface: 155A. Fully expanded petals, upper            surface: 82A; towards the base, 155A; star pattern at            center, 83B and 83D; venation, 82A. Fully expanded petals,            lower surface: 69D; venation, 69B. Throat: 157A; venation,            157A. Tube: 157A; venation, 157A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 5 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate to apicular; recurved.            Apex: Acuminate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Orientation: Erect to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Orientation: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther size: About 1 mm by 2 mm.            Anther color: 14A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 14A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one. Pistil length:            About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Tri-parted. Stigma color: 12B.            Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: 145D. Ovary color:            144A.        -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have not been noted    to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from −5° C. to 38° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHL304’, asillustrated and described.